Derby Center is a recreation destination near Vermont’s Canadian border
Derby Center is a village in northern Vermont that draws folks interested in its year-round outdoorsy lifestyle. “It’s a four-season destination,” says Ryan Pronto, the principal broker and owner of Jim Campbell Realty, which has operated in the area for almost half a century. “If you’re into skiing, boating, and recreation, this is the spot.” Close to Lake Memphremagog, a 30-mile-long waterway that crosses into Canada, ski resorts and hiking trails, the area brings together year-round residents and owners of second homes. While the village is small, with fewer than 1000 residents, people can access necessities in nearby Newport City, or larger communities across the border in Canada.
Varied styles, wide lawns and rural character in small but fast-moving market
The few recent single-family home listings in the village cost about $450,000, and the median single-family home price here is about $315,000, lower than the national median. The market moves quickly, with an average listing length of only nine days. Ranch-style designs, plus the occasional Cape Cod or Dutch Colonial, line Palin Farm Road and Morin Drive amidst pockets of woods and tall trees. Farmhouses sit amongst fields of crops off Wallace Road, and stately midcentury modern and Colonial Revival homes can be found along Vermont Route 105, the village’s main drag. Given the area's rural character, some homes sit on large parcels of land, and even smaller properties have wide, green lawns. Sidewalks are rare, and streets are a mix of rugged dirt roads and narrow paved ones. Condos and townhomes, such as units on Kingsbury Circle, can cost between $200,000 and $255,000.
Lakes, rivers, ski resorts and trails make for four seasons of outdoor recreation
Lake and river access is a major draw here for everything from summer canoeing and fishing to winter swimming. Residents can explore Lake Salem and Lake Derby, or the eastern shore of Lake Memphremagog. “The Clyde River runs through Derby,” Pronto says. “Clyde River fishing is big. And the Northern Forest Canoe Trail connects a bunch of lakes. It runs right through Derby Center.” Those who prefer quiet on the water are in luck. “It’s mostly canoeing, kayaking, and fishing, maybe pontoon boats and small motorboats,” Pronto says. Wakeboats are allowed on Lake Salem, but not on the other area lakes. Jay Peak and Burke Mountain are two ski resorts within 40 miles of Derby Center. The Long Trail starts north of Jay, near the Canadian border, and runs down the length of the Green Mountains before connecting to the Appalachian Trail. “You could go all the way to Florida that way,” Pronto says.
Local burger and steak joints, plus more choices in Newport City and Canada
The village has a handful of restaurants, such as Vermont Pie & Pasta Company and Derby Cow Palace, a steakhouse that also serves elk burgers. Tin Shed Grill is another renowned burger joint. For additional dining options, residents can head to Newport City, or even up into the larger communities in Canada like Magog or Sherbrooke. “People go back and forth all the time,” Pronto says. Shaw’s Grocery and Walmart are both along U.S. Route 5 between Derby Center and Newport City.
July 4th celebrations and Kingdom Games events throughout the year
Derby Center is small enough that there aren’t too many events, but there are a handful of annual traditions in and around the village. “The July 4th parade and activities are a county-wide draw,” Pronto says. “It’s the go-to spot for the area.” In nearby Newport City, the Kingdom Games host athletic events that bring people from all corners of the globe, including a winter swim in a pool cut out of frozen Lake Memphremagog. “They cut the lake open in the winter,” Pronto says. “People also swim the lake’s 30-mile length to Magog in Canada in the summer.”
Many educational pathways at North Country Union High
Derby Elementary School earns a D-plus from Niche. North Country Union Junior High scores a C-plus, and North Country Union High School scores a C-minus. North Country Union High provides the region’s students with various programming, including the North Country Career Center, with training in fields from building to cosmetology, a STEM Academy, an Arts & Communication Academy and dual enrollment for college credit. The high school is located in Newport City, about 5 miles west of Derby Center.
U.S. Route 5 and I-91 connect to Burlington and beyond
U.S. Route 5 doubles as Main Street in Derby Center, connecting the village to Newport City and surrounding communities. Interstate 91 runs along the village’s western edge. “I-91 splits Derby and Newport,” Pronto says. Burlington is 90 miles southwest. Nearby Canadian cities are Magog, about 28 miles north, and Sherbrooke, about 40 miles north. “Sometimes people go back and forth once or twice a week,” Pronto says. North Country Hospital is 4 miles away in Newport City. Northeast Kingdom International Airport is about 9 miles southwest.
Nick practiced in Real Estate since 2000 and is a co-owner and the Managing Broker of Century 21 Farm & Forest. He started in Real Estate during the summers while attending the University of Vermont, where he graduated with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering Management. Post-college, he traveled throughout the U.S. and worked as a handyman mainly in Colorado and Alaska He has always appreciated the beauty of the Northeast Kingdom where he grew up and returned to Vermont to continue working with his family's business. In July 2012, he married his longtime sweetheart, Megan, and in November 2013 they welcomed thier son Brock They completed there family of four in 2015 with their beautiful daughter, Brynn. He enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, hunting, soccer, riding ATVs, snowmobiling, skiing and snowshoeing. He also likes doing construction and land improvement projects. He thoroughly embraces his work as a Realtor because of the diversity of each day and to see the joy of customers and clients realizing their goals!
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